Frost and Freeze conditions likely across Finger Lakes Monday night

Sensitive plants should be protected Monday Night as low temperatures drop well into the 30s.

Sensitive plants should be protected Monday Night as low temperatures drop well into the 30s.

Growing Season Threatened

A cold air mass from Canada has settled in over the Finger Lakes region. Monday morning saw temperatures drop into the 30s and 40s with patchy frost, but Monday night promises to be even colder.

Clear skies and clam winds will help temperatures drop to their coldest levels this season. For some areas, temperatures will drop below 32 degrees, technically ending the growing season in those areas.

Those regions shaded in pink above are most likely to see temperatures at or below 32 degrees. Areas in the dark blue will likely drop into the mid 30s with widespread frost. The warmest areas, in the light blue, will see patchy frost with temperatures in the mid and upper 30s.

Nights like tonight are where the uniqueness of the Finger Lakes and the impact of its micro-climates are most evident. Temperatures can vary greatly over the complex terrain of the region, sometimes on scales as small as a single piece of property or single agricultural field.

Obviously, resolving this minute scale of significant differences is impossible in a hand drawn map, such as the one above. As such, it is important to use this and other forecasts as a general guide. Knowing your land’s cold pockets and taking appropriate protective measures is the more important.

You can get the forecast for your zip-code by filling in the box below. Bookmark your page on all your devices so you can always get the best weather for the Finger Lakes. You can read more about these zip-code forecasts here.

Warming Towards Mid-Week

Sunny skies will help temperatures rise steadily Tuesday morning. By the late morning, temperatures will be pushing through the 40s and into the 50s. Afternoon highs should get just slightly above 60 degrees.

Wednesday will be the warmest day of the week. Southerly winds between the high pressure system, by then to our east, and an incoming cold front will help boost temperatures. Expect morning lows Wednesday in the 40s, with afternoon highs ranging from the mid 60s to around 70 degrees.

For comparison, the average high during this time of the year is around 60 degrees.

Wednesday will by dry, but showers are likely on Thursday as the front moves through. Unfortunately, these showers will be light, with less than a quarter inch of rain anticipated.

Meteorologist Drew Montreuil has been forecasting the weather in the Finger Lakes region since 2006 and has degrees in meteorology from SUNY Oswego (B.S. with Honors) and Cornell (M.S.).
When not forecasting, he can be found working at the local library, making goat milk soap, running until his legs burn, or playing with his three young boys.